Former A’s Player Being Honored By MLB For Courage In Gay Rights Movement

OAKLAND (CBS SF) – Major League Baseball is honoring the first known player to come out as gay to teammates and management.

At the All-Star game in Minnesota, former Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Glenn Burke, will be honored for his role in a movement that is just now gaining traction on the sports landscape.

Burk died in 1995 at the age of 42 due to complications from AIDS.

He came out in 1980 as a 27-year-old at the end of his career with the A’s. He said at the time it was more important to be himself than to play baseball.